Disadvantages of Container Living Houses

The disadvantages of container living houses are mainly reflected in aspects such as space, comfort, safety, and applicability:

Limited Space

The interior space of container houses is relatively narrow. Although each household is equipped with a two-bedroom and one-living-room layout, the single beds are mostly 195 cm long and 90 cm wide. For tall athletes (such as basketball and volleyball players), their feet will hang in the air when lying down, and it is difficult to turn over. The aisles in double-bed rooms are narrow, and two people need to avoid each other when moving simultaneously. With a ceiling height of only 2.2 meters, tall athletes will feel oppressed.

Poor Comfort

• Poor Sound Insulation: Metal wall panels have good sound transmission properties. The snoring of roommates next door and external noise can easily enter, affecting sleep quality and requiring the use of earplugs to fall asleep.
• Insufficient Thermal Insulation: The container material absorbs heat, and the enclosed structure results in poor cooling effects. Although equipped with air conditioners, in hot and muggy weather, the indoor temperature is difficult to lower quickly. The organizing committee even recommends opening the door for ventilation before going to bed and then closing it.
• Restricted Ventilation and Lighting: The interior space is enclosed, with poor ventilation and lighting conditions, which can easily lead to odors due to moisture or poor air circulation.

Safety Hazards

• Weak Fire Resistance: The steel structure may melt at high temperatures (such as when the combustion temperature reaches 600°C), affecting the overall stability of the building and requiring additional fire prevention measures.
• Risk of Rusting: When exposed to a humid environment for a long time, the steel structure is prone to rusting and requires regular maintenance.
• Low Disaster Resistance: In extreme weather conditions (such as heavy rain), container houses are prone to problems such as water accumulation and leakage. During the Nagoya Asian Games, heavy rain caused water accumulation in the container area, and more than 400 athletes were urgently relocated.

Limited Applicability

• Unsuitable for Long-Term Residence: Containers are originally designed for temporary use (such as shelters and construction site dormitories), not for long-term living scenarios. Problems such as oppressive space and single functionality will become more prominent as the居住 (living) time increases.
• Insufficient Supporting Facilities: Although equipped with independent bathrooms, refrigerators, etc., their capacities are limited and cannot meet the long-term living needs of multiple people. For example, during the Nagoya Asian Games, six people shared one bathroom, resulting in poor living convenience.